March 19, 2009 – Decatur Memorial Hospital, a 356-bed hospital in Decatur, IL, earned first place in McKesson’s second annual computerized physician order entry (CPOE) competition held in late February for improving patient outcomes and reducing variability in the blood transfusion process.
Two other organizations – Dupont Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, and WellStar Health System in Marietta, GA – received recognition as award finalists.
An independent panel of judges selected the winners based on their use of CPOE to solve specific business issues by achieving clinical and financial results. The judges also took into consideration the methodology used to measure results, with the ultimate goal of identifying best practices and replicable models of CPOE success to drive a systems-based approach to quality improvements. The Decatur Memorial Hospital demonstrated measurable improvements in the quality and cost of care earned three healthcare organizations top honors in.
In the CPOE competition, Decatur Memorial Hospital won top honors for using Horizon Expert Orders, McKesson’s CPOE solution, to help medical staff improve patient outcomes and decrease variability in the blood transfusion process. In addition to educating physicians and staff on the appropriate use of blood, Decatur embedded evidence-based content and a comprehensive clinical process within the CPOE system to ensure that transfusions were administered based on appropriate hemoglobin values.
Decatur realized substantial reductions in blood prescribing habits, from an average of 290 units of blood per month to 245 units over a two-year period-decreasing associated risk to patients. The hospital also improved patient safety and outcomes, enhanced the use of evidence-based practice, and saved up to $270,000 per year in blood-related costs. The use of data analysis tools and clinical alerts for continuous monitoring also played a key role in Decatur’s process improvement effort.
For more information: www.mckesson.com
June 29, 2017 
